July 21, 2025, 4:15 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A completely new, ultra-thin iPhone model, the iPhone 17 Air, is expected in September. There will likely be little room for a large battery. A recent leak suggests that previous reports about the battery capacity are accurate.
Significantly Less Capacity Than Current Models
The well-known leaker “Instant Digital” shared details about the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity on his Weibo account, which has 1.4 million followers, as reported by “MacRumors.” It is said to be under 3000 milliampere-hours (mAh). This would be a significant step back compared to newer models, which come with up to 4685 mAh capacity. The last time Apple used such a small battery was in the iPhone 12 (2815 mAh) from 2020.
The information seems to confirm an earlier report suggesting the Air could come with a 2800-mAh battery. However, the leaker “yeux1122” left open the possibility of a higher-capacity battery. Apple might use battery cells with high energy density–similar to silicon-carbon batteries used in smartphones by manufacturers like Honor.
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“I hope the iPhone 17 Air doesn’t actually look like that!”
Mini Battery in iPhone 17 Air Expected to Last a Day
At least, Apple’s new Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 is expected to help the iPhone 17 Air last a full day despite its mini battery, according to “Instant Digital.” Whether this applies to all types of users is questionable. In early May, “The Information” published a report on Apple’s internal battery tests for the iPhone 17 Air. These showed that 60 to 70 percent of iPhone 17 Air users apparently make it through the day on a single charge. For other iPhones, this figure is between 80 and 90 percent.
Read more: Mini Battery in iPhone 17 Air? What This Means for Battery Life
Those who don’t make it through the day with the Air might be able to purchase an optional battery case from Apple. This is a protective case with an integrated battery that charges the smartphone. Apple last released a Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 11 in 2019.